CHAPTER 2 — THE BROTHER HE SHOULD NEVER HAVE TOUCHED
The engines went silent.
Three black SUVs stopped in the middle of the driveway.
Every conversation died.
The doors opened.
Men in dark suits stepped out first.
Not rushing.
Not shouting.
Just watching.
Then...
My brother climbed out.
Michael Hayes.
Six-foot-four.
Broad shoulders.
Gray suit.
Calm eyes.
The kind of calm that frightened people.
He looked at me first.
Not Derek.
Not the crowd.
Me.
The moment he saw the blood running from my mouth...
His expression changed.
"Van."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Who did this?"
I couldn't answer.
I simply looked at Derek.
Michael followed my eyes.
He slowly nodded.
"I understand."
Derek tried to laugh.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
Michael ignored him.
He walked straight toward me.
Took off his suit jacket.
Carefully draped it over my shoulders.
Then gently lifted my chin.
"You need a hospital."
"I'm okay."
"No."
He shook his head.
"You're not."
My boss stepped forward.
"I called the police."
Michael looked at him.
"Thank you."
Then Derek grabbed my wrist again.
"She's my wife."
"You don't get to take her anywhere."
Michael slowly turned.
His voice never changed.
"Take your hand off my sister."
Derek smirked.
"Or what?"
Michael looked down at Derek's hand.
Then back into his eyes.
"I won't ask twice."
Derek shoved him.
Big mistake.
The security men behind Michael instantly stepped forward.
Michael raised one finger.
They stopped.
"No."
He looked at Derek.
"You wanted to act like a man."
"So stand here..."
"...and answer one question."
Derek crossed his arms.
"What?"
Michael pointed at me.
"Did you hit her?"
Silence.
Then Derek shrugged.
"So what if I did?"
"You heard her."
"She's my wife."
The entire backyard went quiet.
Michael slowly took out his phone.
Pressed one button.
A video appeared on the screen.
The party.
The punch.
The blood.
Everything.
He looked at Derek.
"Good."
"Because now..."
"...I don't have to prove it."
Before Derek could react...
A police cruiser pulled into the driveway.
An officer stepped out.
Then another.
Michael handed them the phone.
"I'd like to report an assault."
The officer watched the video.
Looked at my bleeding face.
Then at Derek.
"Sir..."
"Turn around."
Derek laughed.
"You can't arrest me over a family argument."
The officer calmly pulled out a pair of handcuffs.
"No."
"I'm arresting you..."
"...for felony assault."
Just then...
Derek's mother screamed,
"You can't do this!"
Michael slowly looked at her.
"Oh..."
May you like
"I'm not finished yet."
END OF CHAPTER 2.
